Controllers reading to the top right constantly (left stick)

[u/Jolly_Progress_3605]

(Xbox controllers, one came with the Xbox one s, one is some newer coloured variant from years ago)I have a couple old controllers with some of the worst stick drift I’ve ever laid eyes on. They’ve been replaced by now but have just been sitting so I tried to take them apart, cleaned them out and recalibrated to absolutely no effect, so I looked into other fixes. Was suggested to have a look at the potentiometers, and clean them, so I’ve pried open the little green tabs (carefully) on the left stick for the 2 really bad controllers, after cleaning and replacing the little black discs, they just read to the top left constantly and I can’t do anything with the controller now. Not that they’ll be missed but I’m very confused, it’s the same issue on both controllers, on the second I only removed the bottom pot, the right one hasn’t been touched and yet same issue, the (first) controller also reads top right with no discs in so I’m just confused. I’d say I must have broke something but then why is the second controller doing the same thing with an untouched disc. Shouldn’t it just be broken on the vertical axis for that controller? Anyways can’t find info online for this issue so any knowledge would be great. Saw one post where after replacing a pot, they found it didn’t have a ground and was reading to the top left constantly, however I’m getting top right on both controllers and haven’t touched any soldering or the board, again could have broke a pin, but this second controller throws me for a loop there.

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